5 Best New & Upcoming Phones (2026)

The phone world just had its biggest month in years. Apple launched a whole new lineup plus its first-ever foldable, Google's Pixel 11 is on shelves, and Xiaomi and OnePlus are shipping new flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. We count down the five best new and upcoming phones of 2026 — specs, prices, release dates, and which one is actually worth your money. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - The 5 best new & upcoming phones of 2026 01:26 - #5: Xiaomi 17 — the spec-sheet monster (import only) 03:10 - #4: OnePlus 15 — 165Hz display, 7,300mAh battery (launches Oct 27) 04:51 - #3: Google Pixel 11 — best camera, best value at $899 06:22 - #2: iPhone 17 — 120Hz ProMotion finally on the base iPhone 07:51 - #1: iPhone Duo — Apple's first foldable, on sale Oct 23 09:35 - Recap: which phone should you buy? Official sources: Apple Newsroom — iPhone 17 / iPhone Duo announcements (Sept 9, 2026) Google — Made by Google 2026: Pixel 11 lineup (Aug 12, 2026) OnePlus — OnePlus 15 name, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 & 165Hz display confirmation TechRepublic — iPhone Duo cheat sheet: price, specs, release date MacRumors — Pixel 11 lineup coverage (Aug 12, 2026) Tom's Guide — iPhone 17 unveiled: release date, price, specs Note: all specs, prices, and dates are from manufacturer announcements and press reports as of Oct 13, 2026; no firsthand testing. OnePlus 15 global launch date and pricing are not yet officially confirmed. Monster Roar by Alexander, orangefreesounds.com, licensed CC BY 4.0. Glass Breaking Sound by Alexander, orangefreesounds.com, licensed CC BY 4.0.